A ladybird landed on Helena's dress, which gave her an excuse to catch it on her finger and watch it instead of me. The ladybird was prettier anyway.
'I beg your pardon.'
'There's no need,' she said; I could see that there was.
After a short silence she asked me what to do if she found any trace of Barnabas, so I explained how I was staying in Oplontis, and the best time to catch me was in the evenings when we ate. 'It's not far; you could send a slave with a message-'
'Are you staying in Oplontis on your own?'
'Oh, no! Larius and I have a lively female entourage-' She looked up. 'Petronius Longus is here. He has a bevy of little girls.' She had met Petro; she probably thought him respectable (which, in the presence of his wife and children, he generally was).
'Ah, you're with a family! So you're not lonely?'
'It's not my family,' I snapped.
She frowned over that one then started again. 'Are you not enjoying your beach party?'
Defeated by her persistence, I finally sighed. 'You know me and the sea. Sailing on it makes me sick; even staying alongside makes me nervous in case any of my jolly companions suggests a joy ride on the waves… I'm here working.'
'Aufidius Crispus? How far have you got?'
'I've sold a lot of good people new sets of water pipes; hence the dreadful garb.' She made no comment. 'Look, when do you expect I'll hear from you about Barnabas?'
'Today I shall have to let this commotion you've caused settle; tomorrow I had planned going to Nola with my father-in-law.' Helena seemed to hesitate, then she continued. 'Perhaps I can help you with Crispus. I may know people he visits when he comes ashore.'
'Your father-in-law for instance?'
'No, Falco!' she replied sternly, rejecting my suspicion of political skulduggery up at the villa.
'Oh pardon me!' I wriggled against my olive tree and gave her a twisted grin. 'I'll find him eventually,' I assured her.
Helena was looking thoughtful. 'Listen, try the magistrate in Herculaneum. His name is Aemilius Rufus; I've known him for years. His sister was engaged to marry Crispus once. Nothing came of it. She was keen, but he lost interest-'
'Trust a man,' I contributed helpfully.
'Quite!' she said.
I sighed slightly. I was feeling melancholy. 'It seems a long time…'
'It is!' she retorted crossly. 'What's the matter?'
'Thinking.'
'What?'
'You… Someone I thought I knew so well, yet will never know at all.'
Now there was a silence that said if I intended to be objectionable, the whole conversation was closed.